Play or game ball



Dec. 5, 1939. M. B. REACH PLAY 0R GAME BALL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan.14. 1938 Dec'. 5', 1939. M B REACH 2,182,053

PLAY OR GAME -BALL Filed Jan. 14, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 5,1939 UNITEDA STATES PATENT OFFICEv PLAY R GAME BALL Milton B. Reach,

Springfield, Mass.

Application January 14, 1938, Serial No. 185,037

Y has for an object the provision of a construc tion providing rib orridge portions projecting outwardly from a layer of. the carcass or bodybeneath the cover, edges of the cover being disposed in proximity to thesides of said rib porl tions, and the outer faces of the rib portionsvbeing exposed and provided with a recessed or channeled formation withthe object of better control of the ball.

Another object is to provide an imitation orl simulated lacing which issubstantially permanently a part of the ball structure.

Another object is to provide simulated lacing in the form of raisedportions, to aid in gripping and controlling the ball, as in passing,the simuthe carcass or body, with edges of the cover which overlie thesaid body layer being disposed in proin'mity to the said simulatedlacing, the outer faces of the simulated lacing being exposed.

A further object is to provide a simulated lacing structure which iscarried by the body or carcass, and which is not a part of the cover,enabling the cover to be of any desirable material, and to be relievedof strain incident to gripping of the lacing.

Other objects will appear hereinafter, the invention comprising thefeatures, combination, and

ticularly .pointed out in the amended claims.

In the drawings Figure l is a view of the invention applied to 1 onetype of ball. A

.Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the constructionof the invention substantially onv the line 2--2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 2a is an enlarged view of a. portion of the construction of Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1showing the cross-section of the recessed rib.

Fig. 4 is a view of another form of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view showing the simulated lacing or raisedportions carried by the carcass without the cover, and as shown dispcsedin line with one of the rib portions which is interrupted by thesimulated lacing, which, in effect, forms a portion or continuation ofsuch rib.

lated lacing projecting outwardly from a layer of Fig. 6 is afragmentary plan view similar to Fig. 5 with the cover in place.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged partial cross sectional View of the simulatedlacing substantially on the line 1 1 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged partial longitudinal sectional view of thesimulated lacing substantially on the line 3 8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional View substantially on line 9--9 of Fig.6 showing the rib formed E@ i in a slightly modified manner from thatshown in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, i represents the rib or raised portionextending above the carcass or body 3 of the ball, the rib having arecess desirably in the form of a groove or channel la in the facethereof, for obtaining an improved control of the ball, which may be ofany suitable type; the ball shown being by way of example.

A cover or veneer 2, desirably of panels of leather or other suitablematerial, is applied with edges thereof substantially inabuttingrelation tothe grooved ribs or raised portions I, and cemented orotherwise secured to the carcass or body 3 of the ball and with theedges of the cover` preferably cemented or otherwise secured to thesides of the rib or raised portions.

Preferably the rib may be molded with the carcass or body of the ballsubstantially in the manner described in my Patent No. 2,086,094, datedJuly 6, 1937, having reference also to the method of molding andassembly disclosed in my Patent No. 2,693,737, the form or shape of therib and the recess or channel in its face, according to the presentinvention, being determined by the shape 35 of the groove cut in themold for forming the rib. Although molding the recessed rib with themolding of the layer of the carcass or body of the ball is the preferredmethod of manufacture, the recess or groove can be otherwise. formed,as, for example, by cutting or grinding.

'I'he depression or groove in the face of the rib may be of any desiredshape or configuration and may be disposed throughout the extent of therib or in portions thereof as may be desirable 45 to create an airrecess or an air channel effect for obtaining a control of the ball.

Desirably-the recess formation in the rib is a channel and preferredforms are the angular shaped groove or channel as shown' in Fig. 3 or arounded shaped channel as indicated in' Fig. 4. The air channels formedin the rib I may be said to creat/e an aerial friction that helps tocontrol the iiight of the ball, and control of ght is also contributedto by the rmer ringer feel aorded 55 10 substantially in abuttingrelationship. The sides of the rib may be substantially straight andlparallel and substantially normal to the surf ace ofthe rib 'and cover,as shown, or they maybe of other shape. V

The outer edge portions of the rib or raised portion I are preferablysubstantially fiush or even with the outer surfaces of the adjoiningcover 2, although it will be apparent that the ri'b may be made toproject beyond the surface 2Q of the cover as may be desired.

The carcass 3 with which the ridge is preferably molded may be made ofrubber or rubber .compound as indicated in Fig. 4 or of laminationsmolding operation, orl it may consist of cement y or rubber impregnatedcanvas of patterns sewed together to produce the desired shape of theball and submitted to the molding operation, or the carcass may be builtup upon a suitable form.

In molding the rib I with the carcass or body 3 of the-ball, the moldmay be recessed to produce the desired shape of recess in the rib, andthe rib material, which preferably is a mixture of fibrous material andrubber, is inserted in the mold recesses or channels and in the processof vulcanizing, the carcass and the rib or ridge become integrallyunited.

Referring to Figs. 5 to 9, and to Fig. 1, the invention embodies raisedportions in the form of a simulated lacing 1 projecting outwardly from alayer of the body or carcass, with the edges of the cover 2. whichoverlies the body layer desirably being disposed in proximity to theedges of the simulated lacing, the outer faces ofthe simulated lacing 'Ibeing exposed. The exposed surfaces of the simulated lacing yI providefor manual contact therewith, as by the fingers, to facilitate grippingand passing or throwing of the ball in the proper control thereof inplay.

As shown, the simulated lacing 1 is desirably disposed in the line ofone of the ribs or ridges I, and interrupting said rib, or, in effect,replacing and serving as a portion of said ridge or rib.

The simulated lacing is preferably substantially permanently a part ofthe ball structure, h

and the invention is not confined to the specific structure and mannerof forming and applying the imitation lacing to the ball, shown anddescribed as desirable.

It is desired to provide a ball structure embodying a lacing simulatingthe appearance and feel of the lacing heretofore commonly used in ballconstruction, as in footballs, the lacing being regarded by some expertsas useful in gripping the ball for passing and throwing.

As in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8, the simulated lacingis preferably provided by molding with the carcass or body portion ofthe ball, and the mold is provided with a suitably shaped cavity forforming the imitation lacing. Preferably, as indicated, the mold cavityfor the lacing is in the line of and substantially replaces a portion ofthe mold cavity or groove for forming one of the rib or ridge portionsI, although the invention is not limited to this arrangement..

' Fig. 3, a surplus or excess of the moldable rib material may beprovided so that in molding the rib material and the carcass or body ofthe ball together, the excess rib material will be spread over the ballbody or carcass at either side of the rib or ridge, as indicated in Fig.9 at Ib. The surplus material may be provided either by stuifing themold cavities with an excess of the material required to form the ridgesor projecting portions, or by providing an excess of material on thebody or carcass at the desired location, so that when the carcass ismoulded with the projections or ribs desirably with vulcanization, theparts are joined together in a homogeneous union.

In molding the' simulated lacing, a surplus of moldable material mayalso be provided, so that the excess material Ic would be spread overthe carcass at either side of portions of the simulated lacingprojections. In molding the simulated lacing in the line of one of therib or ridge portions, a substantially continuous mass of the moldablematerial may desirably be employed either stuffed in the mold cavitiesor applied to the ball carcass in the proper desired location,

so that the simulated lacingwith the rib portion at either end thereofare molded from such mass.

'I'he moldable material for forming the simulated lacing may be of anysuitable material, preferably a mixture of rubber and fibrous material,which will roughen up with wear, and improve the feeling of security,particularly in wet weather.

While the raised portions providing the ridges and simulated lacing arepreferably molded with the body portion of the ball, the vinvention isnot restricted to this method of uniting the same to the body portion.

With the imitation lace 'I formed in the line of one of the ribs I, itis thus provided at the joint or seam in the covering material l2, sothat the edges of the cover are readily formed of such contour as to fitand conform to the shape of the edges of the simulated lacing. While theinvention is not restricted to any particular configuration of thelacing, a desirable form, as shown, comprises transverse portions lawith intermediate portions 1b, the side edges of which are f disposedinwardly of the ends of the transverse bars Ia and of less height thansaid transverse bars, whereby raised portions having edges disposedtransversely of the bally and edges disposed longitudinally of theball,.are provided for desired contact with the fingers.

The edge portions of the cover 2 may be notched or cut as shown to t andconform to the edge contour of either side of the lacing.

The cover is preferably adhesively or cohesively applied to the carcassand bonded therewith in a final molding operation.

The imitation lacing is preferably substantially a permanent part of thecarcass or body of the ball without dependence upon the cover for sup-vport'. y

The lacing desirably forms no part of the covering material, so that thecovering may be of any desired material, as it may be desirable to useleather as the covering material in some balls,

or a. dierent grade of leather in other balls, or a covering material ofa rubber or other compound in other balls.

The carcass or body of the ball with the raised portions unitedtherewith and supported thereby, whether in the form of the channeledribs or ridges at lthe seams, or in the form of the simulated lacing, orboth, may be produced in a standard way and the balls thereafter gradedin quality according to the type of material with which they arecovered, whether with diiTerent grades of leather or a substitutematerial.

The raised portions comprising the ribs or ridge portions or thesimulated lacing may be of any suitable. material according to Whateverneed may arise, such as the mixture of brous material and rubberhereinbeiore mentioned. They may be of leather or other materialimpregnated with a vulcanizing cement so as to be united-homogeneouslyor cohesively with the carcass in the molding operation.

'Ihe raised portions, in the form of the simulated lacing, being bondedwith the carcass or body of the ball and supported thereby withoutdependence upon the cover, provide for all frictional strain fromgripping of the ball at this point being transmitted directly to thebody or carcass of .the ball and relieving the covering material oi suchstrains. Ordinarily, lacings are substantially a part of or directlyconnected to the covering material which must bear strains exerted atthe lacings.

Preferably the shape oi the mold recess, or recesses, determines theshape of the recess, .or recesses, in the rib and the shape of thesimulated lacing so as to avoid the necessity for any subsequentgrinding or nnishing operation.

The ball may be of the type to be inflated, and may have a bladder 4 ofrubberprovided in any suitable'way, or it may be of solid type such asin my patent above mentioned. The ball desirably may be of the inflatedvalved bladder type in which an iniiating valve is carried by thebladder and access to the valve is obtained through a `hole in thecarcass of the ball.

While the invention is shown in connection with a football, it may beembodied in other forms of balls.

A desirable end construction for the .type of ball chosen to illustratethe invention may comprise a suitably shaped end piece 5 of rubber orother suitable material which overlies the bladder 4 and which iscovered by the body or carcass 3 of the ball. The veneer cover panels 2may desirably terminate short oi' the ends of the ball, and a suitablyshaped and constructed cap 2a of covering material adjoins the coverpanels 2 andcaps the ball end. The cap 2a may be formed from a piece o fleather or the like, having notches or cuts in its edge as at 6 whichfacilitate the shaping of the cap.

It will be understood that where features shown in connection with anyvmodification are capable of employment with other modifications. theyare to be considered as shown in connection with such other modications.

l.' claim:

l. A play or game ball comprising a body portin and a raised portionthereon in the form ofa simulated lacing simulating the appearance andfeel of an actual lacing to aid in gripping the ball for passing orthrowing, said simulated lacing raised portion being substantiallycontinuous from end to end 'and comprising transverse raised membersjoined by intermediate raised members, the side edgesl of which aredisposed inwardly of the ends of the transverse raised members, and acovering surface layer having edges substantially abutting the sides ofsaid continuous simulated lacing raised portion, the edges of saidcovering layer at either side of said simulated lacing raised portionbeing notched to conform to the edges of said transverse and inter-`mediate raised members, said simulated lacing raised portion beingsupported entirely by said body without dependence upon said coveringsur'- face layer for support, all strains exerted by or through thelacing raised portion as in gripping the ball being transmitted directlyt0 the body, said-covering surface layer being free from such strain.

2. A play or game ball according to claim 1 in which said simulatedlacing raised portion extends above the surface of said covering layer.

3. A play or game ball according to claim l in which said simulatedlacing raised portion is molded integrally with said body portion, andsaid covering layer comprises panels applied to the surface of said bodyportion.

4. A play or game ball according to claim 1 in which said intermediateraised members are of less height than said transverse raised members ofsaid continuous simulated lacing raised portions.

5. A play or game ball comprising a body portion, a ridge portionthereon, an integral simulated lacing raised portion thereon extendingin line with said ridge portion, said integral simulated lacing raisedportion comprising spaced transverse raised members joined byintermediate raised members, and a covering layer having edgessubstantially abutting 'the sides of said ridge and simulated lacingraised portions..

6. A play or game ball comprising a body portion and raised portionsthereon in the form of a simulated lacing simulating the appearance andfeel of an actual lacing to aid in gripping the ball for passing orthrowing, said simulated lacing raised portions comprising spacedtransverse raised members, and a covering surface layer having edgessubstantially abutting the sides of said simulated lacing raisedportions, and being notched to receive the said spaced transversemembers and to extend into spaces between said members, said simulatedlacing raised portions being supported entirely by said body withoutdependence upon s aid covering layer for support, all strainsexerted byor through the lacing raised portions as in gripping the ball beingtransmitted directly to the body, said covering surface layer being freefrom such strain. l

' MILTON B. REACH.

